Returning to Selhurst Park after a well needed holiday, I was full of anticipation of three points after missing both the matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Blackpool.
Confident that even without Yannick Bolasie and Mile Jedinak who have moved on to Everton and Aston Villa respectively, we would still have too much quality and hunger for a Bournemouth side punching above their weight. Excited to witness the prospect of seeing new record signing Christian Benteke leading the line.
I couldn’t see anything but a victory being delivered and a much needed reprieve for boss Alan Pardew who dropped supposedly want a way winger Wilfried Zaha to the bench and started with Connor Wickham and Benteke up front. Playing what seemed a 4-4-2 formation
How wrong was I with that feeling of optimism?
We started sluggish and looked like a side lacking in confidence and belief. Certain individuals were not up for the challenge and I found myself asking whether these players were actually playing for the manager currently at the helm.
The first five minutes we seemed to be on the front foot but then lost our way the longer the half went on. The opposition appeared hungrier and more up for the challenge ahead and their confidence grew as the half went on while ours shrunk.
Bournemouth played a 4-3-3 formation pushed the ball round quickly, were industrious and played on the counter attack. On one of those attacks they were awarded a corner from which there did not seem to be much danger. It should have been dealt with better after a weak headed clearance by Benteke, but a lovely ball dinked into the box by Harry Arter found Josh King who managed to shoot low down across goal and into the bottom corner. Just eleven minutes gone and Palace were trailing. Could Premier League debutant goalkeeper Steve Mandanda have done better? Or am I being too harsh?
I simply couldn’t believe it. Here we go again. Surely the clock was ticking for Pardew now if we were not to get anything out of the this home fixture.
The home crowd were vocal throughout trying desperately to encourage the Eagles to raise their game and record their first victory of the season.
It was not long before Palace had a chance to get back into the game. Mike Dean awarded a penalty for shirt pulling on Benteke. Like many others around me, I breathed a huge sigh of relief that we’d been awarded an opportunity to reprieve ourselves and get back on equal terms from the spot.
Up stepped Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, pulling rank on Benteke who also fancied the opportunity to get us back level. Having witnessed Cabaye’s woeful spot kick last season at St James’ Park, I wasn’t feeling completely confident with his ability as our best spot taker. Come to think about it, I haven’t got much belief in what he actually offers us anymore.
Low and behold, his spot kick was saved by the impressive thirty-six year old Pole, Artur Borac. It was not even a surprise to be honest. In my opinion, I just don’t think Cabaye is a Palace kind of player, and I just cannot see what he offers us. Since his arrival we seem to have lost the team spirit that took us so far. But, Pardew clearly adores him so he will always get the nod for selection.
It looked like it was going to be another one of those days. A frustrated Cabaye followed up the penalty miss by picking up a needless yellow card for a niggling tackle.
The best chance for the Cherries to double their lead came after a through ball to Callum Wilson put him one-on-one with Mandanda who pulled off a heroic save at the strikers feet. Not only that but the Frenchman kept hold of the ball to prevent an almost certain goal and Bournemouth going in at the break with a two goal lead. Mandanda had redeemed himself, fantastic goalkeeping.
Damien Delaney joined Cabaye into the referee’s notebook for a scything challenge on the edge of the area as frustration for the home team continued to build.
Mike Dean blew up for the end of the first half where the Crystal Palace players left to boos from certain sections of the ground as they left the pitch.
The second half began with a much higher tempo and plenty of purpose with added urgency as the Eagles went in search of an equaliser.
In just the right place at the right time for the visitors, Arter cleared the ball off the line as Palace peppered the Bournemouth goal. Surely it was only a matter of time before we made the breakthrough? There was much more of a threat coming from Palace after the interval after plenty of harsh words being said in the changing room seemingly doing the trick.
Adding much needed reinforcements with a little over twenty, Chung-yong Lee and Wilfried Zaha replaced Connor Wickham with Wilfried Zaha. What a inspired change it proved to be as Palace stepped up a level with Zaha and Lee involved in most attacks. They were both excellent and we looked so much more a threat with them on the pitch.
Zaha looked dangerous on the right side and gave Bournemouth defenders a real headache, something that Andros Townsend had not done virtually all game on the left.
The impressive Lee was pressed forward at every opportunity and fired over a excellent opportunity when he should have really shown a little composure and hit the target. He did however make Boruc pull off a good parrying save soon after.
A section in the Holmesdale Road Stand started chanting ‘Super Al’ but were quickly shouted down from a section of the crowd, proving that not everyone is behind Pardew and the pressure on him was seriously mounting.
With time running out, a goal mouth scramble cleared was cleared eventually with a few players having a chance to score as Joel Ward had the best opportunity. The Bournemouth goal had a charmed life and it was just going to be another one of those days as Palace headed towards another loss, the third on the trot in the Premier League this season.
Time for one more change. Martin Kelly replacing Ward to add a bit more ariel threat at set pieces allowing impressive captain Scott Dann to join the front line in the last throw of the dice. Palace pushed hard for that elusive equaliser and first goal of the new league campaign.
Four minutes remaining shown by the fourth official on the touchline. This was it, all or nothing. Time to throw the kitchen sink at them.
After some excellent build up play, Jason Puncheon found time to send in a lovely floated cross that found the head of Scott Dann who powered a impressive header into the corner of the net past a stranded Boruc.
Selhurst Park simply erupted. It was an absolutely fantastic goal and no more than the Eagles deserved for their second half endeavors.
It could have been even better. The inspirational Wilfried Zaha won a corner after more superb win play. Scott Dann rose again but could not match his previous effort and the ball sailed wide.
Referee Mike Dean blew up to bring the match to a close. Bournemouth players sank to their knees at the final whistle for which must have felt like a cruel blow. A loss would have been harsh on Palace after a much improved second half performance.
Next up for Palace is a trip to Middlesbrough in two weeks time which follows the first international break of the season as well as the end of the transfer window. Hopefully we will be looking forward to seeing one or two more new faces for that fixture.
Find our all the statistics from the draw with Bournemouth on TEB tomorrow in our Premier League Statistics article.
1 comment
What’s this? My comments are all gone! This is outrageous!!! I’ve a good mind to speak with wor Alan!!!
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